GREAT LAWN | RENDERING BY FIELD OPERATIONS COURTESY OF THE PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST

If it seems like a big chunk of Downtown is under construction, that’s not an exaggeration.

And there’s more coming as the official groundbreaking of the 4-acre Arts Landing is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, April 29.

Demolition of the Goodyear Auto Service store on a corner of the Cultural Trust-owned property is making way for construction to begin on the $31 million Eighth Street civic space.

Arts Landing — billed as “one of the most transformative projects” in the Cultural District in 25 years — will include a Great Lawn with a bandshell; a Flex Zone that will open with three pickleball courts and other amenities; the Backyard, a place for relaxation with seating and space for pop-up events; the Play Room for family-friendly activities; and a Garden Walk, a pedestrian-only linear space that will replace Eighth Street. In addition, a visitors center will be created out of the first floors of the Cultural Trust-owned buildings at 819 and 821 Penn Ave. that will offer public bathrooms.

A soft-opening of the area is expected to be ready for the NFL Draft coming to town April 23-25, 2026, and Arts Landing is scheduled to be totally completed in time for the Three Rivers Arts Festival, which will be its permanent home starting next year. (This year, on June 5-8, the festival will be reduced to just four days — instead of its usual 10 days — and be held in 15th Street Plaza at the edge of the Strip District.)

Two other major construction projects also recently began.

ALLEGHENY RIVERFRONT PARK IS BEING RENOVATED BETWEEN THE SIXTH AND NINTH STREET BRIDGES. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

Riverlife is spearheading a $5.4 million rehabilitation of Allegheny Riverfront Park that stretches from the Sixth to the Ninth Street bridges. This project is expected to be completed this fall. Opened in 2000 to provide a vital link between Downtown and the riverfront, the park has seen a lot of wear and tear over the last 25 years; the bluestone pavers are being replaced with more durable pavers, some of the London Plane trees will be removed and other trees added, more seating will be added and the ends of each block will be widened to accommodate pop-up events, food trucks and more.

CONSTRUCTION GOT UNDERWAY IN MARKET SQUARE ON APRIL 1. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

On April 1, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership broke ground on a $15 million refresh of Market Square. The entire square is behind a chain-link construction fence and traffic patterns have been changed as a Market Anchor, a pergola-like, semi-circular pavilion, will be constructed as the square’s centerpiece. The project also includes new lighting; improved electrical hookups for concerts, farmers markets and other activities; new seating arrangements and landscaping. The cobblestone bricks around the Square will be replaced with a flatter surface that will be ADA compliant.

This project is expected to be completed shortly before the NFL Draft arrives.

The Square’s activities have been moved to PPG Plaza, and its center fountain provides a beautiful backdrop for activities. Thursday’s sunny day drew a robust crowd to the plaza, where music was being played, some vendor booths were set up and visitors were playing games like corn hole.

The farmers market will be held in the plaza each Thursday beginning May 15, and the Yoga on the Square sessions begin there on May 11.